Balicasag marine sanctuary and Virgin Island of Bohol

In addition to the many places one can visit on Bohol and Panglao island, a day trip to Balicasag and the Virgin Island of Bohol is definitely an activity that should not be skipped. Rather than booking a place on big, touristic boats, make sure to visit any beach on Panglao one or two days prior to your trip and speak to the boat owners to arrange your banca. A private boat for two to four people can be booked for as little as 1800 pesos. The earlier you leave, the bigger the chance to spot dolphins – they mostly appear on the surface in the early hours of the morning. The trip includes a visit to Balicasag Island – known for the many turtles that you can spot while snorkelling – and the Virgin Island of Bohol, boasting the longest and arguably the most impressive sandbank I have ever visited. Here, you can only find a few food stalls on the long stretch of sand, serving different types of beverages and seafood caught only hours before consumption. It doesn’t get fresher than that. And since no words could ever describe such beauty, here are few pictures which have hopefully captured this piece of tropical paradise. No filters, no nothing. Pinky swear.